EulogyJudged by his article in the Perspective section of...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

September 03, 1995

Eulogy

Judged by his article in the Perspective section of The Sunday Sun for Aug. 20, your White House reporter, Carl M. Cannon, doesn't seem to be quite with it.

Mr. Cannon was disturbed because there was little or no mention of Willie Mays in any of the numerous laudatory articles on Mickey Mantle that followed his recent death. There was also little or no mention of Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams in any of these pieces. The reason: Mickey Mantle had just died, the others hadn't.

All of this was not a ''subtle form of racism'' as Mr. Cannon suggested. It's called eulogy.

M. F. Groves

Sykesville

Missing in Action

I went to Baltimore Hebrew University on Aug. 21 to hear the mayoral candidates in a forum sponsored by the Baltimore Jewish Council. This was scheduled to be the candidates' only joint appearance in the Jewish community.

Mary Pat Clarke and four Republicans engaged in a lively discussion and answered questions. Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke did not show up. He did not send a representative or issue a statement or apologize. It was only through a BJC response to written questions from the audience that we learned that Mr. Schmoke had a ''scheduling conflict'' and would appear this week.

Well, hooray! Recently, the candidates for City Council president and the 5th councilmanic district were scheduled to give their views and meet the people. That was a full agenda. The mayor is taking advantage of the BJC's hospitality and the community's good nature. Mr. Schmoke does not deserve a public forum with no opposing candidates on an evening set aside for other business.

I am saddened and angry at the mayor's cavalier attitude toward the Jewish community. What did we ever do to him? He received the bulk of our vote in 1991. Now he turns around and thumbs his nose at us and makes it crystal clear he cannot be bothered with us. Frankly, I do not believe his schedule story. On election day, my schedule will include a trip to the polls to voice my opinion that Mr. Schmoke needs a new job.

Betty Rennert

Baltimore

Disparaging

I was distressed by comments by campaign workers for mayoral candidate Mary Pat Clarke in a Sun article, Aug. 6.

They were quoted as disparagingly calling Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, ''The Symbol,'' since he is a scholar and a family man or, as the article describes him, ''an ideal son.''

They talked about having to fight that image. Talk about negative and racially targeted campaigning.

At a time when we are fighting negative portrayals of black men, when we are trying to counter the biased perception of black men as represented in various media, at a time when we are trying to mentor young black men, for the Clarke campaign to denigrate Kurt Schmoke for being a good husband, son and father, for being bright, thoughtful and a responsible leader is the most devious of tactics.

It frightens me to think that if Mrs. Clarke resorts to minimizing the character of a man who has been such an important role model, a leader recognized not for athletic ability but for brain power, hard work and gentlemanly manner (integrity), how else might she treat members of the black community for her own personal gain?

Sarah Garret-Sanders

Baltimore

Teens and Sex

Thanks to Mona Charen for highlighting the important finding that a huge proportion of adolescent pregnancies are sired by much older males (Aug. 14, "Shedding Light on Teen Sex"). Her conclusions are that we should stop viewing adolescence as a time of innocent experimenting with sex and start strongly forbidding early sex and popularizing the word ''no.''

My conclusions are a bit different:

The studies described reflect only the teens getting pregnant and not all teens having sex. Maybe there are young people stretching their wings within real friendships of mutual support and for them safe sex is working.

There is a strong message to Congress in these studies. Pregnancy does not necessarily stem from a simple desire to have ''randy fun'' (or to get rich on the dole). More likely, it evolves from complicated motivations and feelings in both parties and results in births to the most vulnerable, needy and unprepared for parenthood among us.

Finally, I am not aware of a group or organization that urges condoms on young people without incorporating this safe sex message in overall educational campaigns encouraging waiting, being sure, not allowing bullying and understanding all the ramifications of early sex.

I agree our youngest girls need these messages the most. But what about an educational word to the other party? I can suggest a catchy message to get us going: Guys, stop pressing sex on younger girls. Grow up and be a real man.

Kathryn J. Henderson.

Westminster

Thanks to Museum Director Zembala

I applaud and wish to reinforce your editorial headlined ''Industry Museum Expands'' (Aug. 20). The Baltimore Museum of Industry is, indeed, the jewel you describe in your editorial. At the same time, I think some important and deserving credits were missing from your editorial.